Petrogenesis of the Blachford Lake Intrusive Suite
Principal Investigator: Mumford, Thomas R. (2)
Licence Number: 14712
Organization: Carleton University
Licensed Year(s): 2011 2010
Issued: May 11, 2010
Project Team: Brian Cousens (Academic Supervisor, Carleton University), Hendrik Falck (Government Supervisor, NWT Geoscience Office), John Ketchum (Government Supervisor, NWT Geoscience Office)

Objective(s): This study is fundamentally concerned with how and why the Nechalacho Rare Earth Element Deposit exists. The objective is a petrogenetic framework to model the development and mineralization of the Blachford Lake intrusive suite.

Project Description: With increasing activity at the Nechalacho Rare Earth Element Deposit a better geological understanding of the setting of the mineral deposit is required. This study is fundamentally concerned with how and why the deposit exists. This is achieved by studying the entire Blachford Lake intrusive suite (>300 km2), the igneous system which generated the deposit. From this we will be able to create a petrogenetic framework to model the development and mineralization of the Blachford Lake intrusive suite. To address these problems this study will focus on the origin, evolution, and interactions of the various phases in the complex. This will be done through improved mapping, additional geochronology (dating of the rocks), and detailed whole-rock and mineral geochemistry. The radiogenic isotopic studies (Sr, Nd, Pb) will be especially important in defining source characteristics, potential crustal assimilants, and sources of elements concentrated in the ore deposits; whereas mineral chemistry and stable isotopes will be used to quantify emplacement conditions (pressure, temperature, fO2). The ongoing results of this study will be presented to the individuals and communities of NWT during the annual Geoscience Forum in Yellowknife. Once the study is complete, a thesis of all the compiled data will be made accessible to the general public at the library of the NWT Geoscience Office in Yellowknife. In addition the geologists of the Northwest Territories geoscience office will be presenting the results to Community members at future meetings. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from June 16, 2010 to August 25, 2010.